This summer in Portland has been gorgeous!! I must admit, for the first time since I was a kid, I purposefully got a tan and it felt amazing. Now that we're a couple weeks into September it's time to undo some of the damage that has been done.

I started doing the 3 Peel Deal at Urbaca last fall because I wanted my clients to see what a regular series of 3 peels could do for their skin. I did my peel right along with them, once a month for 3 months--I also used Okamura Farmacopia's Rose City Maskand AHA Cleanse at home to do light exfoliation in between treatments. Of course we are all wearing our sunscreen and antioxidants on a daily basis. My clients and I loved the results!

What can peels do for you? Basically, they lighten, tighten and brighten on a superficial level. The down time is much less drastic than peels plastic surgeons/dermatologists perform.

The idea is doing light peels consistently as a preventative measure is a better strategy than one big peel. Though nothing can stop the march of time, peels gently plane down the surface of skin, making wrinkles appear less deep. It may take multiple series of peels to lighten dark spots/sun damage.

This week I applied a PCA Peel (Hydroquinone Free) peel, followed with an Oxygenating Treatment--loving it! The Oxy Treatment seems to mitigate a bit of the dryness/tightness I normally feel with these enhanced Jessner's peels. Vita Balm is working as moisturizer, I'm also blending a DMAE Firming Creme / Being True mineral make up powder as liquid foundation for a little extra uumph.

More sun on recently peeled skin will make the spots worse and may even create new sunburn damage. Microdermabrasion would have a similar result. Hmm.

First line of defense, antioxidants. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals, helping to prevent skin cancer. I use SkinCeuticals antioxidants and carry the whole line at Urbaca. Phloretin CF protects and lightens, if I'm feeling dry or I got a little too much sun, I'll use C+E Ferulic. These two antioxidants consistently win Best Of awards and numerous dermatologists use and recommend them. They are spendy, but at their Professionals-Only classes, we were taught the Vitamin C retains a well in your skin for up to 3 days, which means you don't have to use it every day to get the antioxidant benefits. Of course, if you want maximum effect--especially using Phloretin CF to lighten hyperpigmentation--you'd use it every day.

Sunscreen. Just because you're using antioxidants to protect from UVA (aging rays) damage, you'll still need protection from UVB (burning rays). Yes, every day. Yes, even though we live in Portland.

Peel. Here's the plan, do a PCA light Jessner's peel without hydroquinone, don't max it out, just a couple of layers. No hydroquinone because the FDA stated that hydroquinone cannot be ruled out as a potential carcinogen. For upkeep I will alternate between the Rose City Mask and PCA's Oxygenating Trio Treatment, they're both quick and painless.